Railway switch operating apparatus



Oct. 17, 1933. w c MCWHIRTER 1,930,722

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 24, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 11v VENTOR. William CMW Wu'P/er F ('9', I2, [5 HIS ATTORNEY.

Oct. 17, 1933.

w. c. M WHIRTER 1,930,722 RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS 2 Mlliam CM'Wlzl'Pze 9- CLQW 7 HIS ATTORNEY.

Oct. 17, 1933.

w. c. M WHlRTER 1,930,722

RAILWAY SWITGH.OPERATING APPARATUS.

Filed Nov. 24, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HIS A TT ORNE Y.

switch. t

Iwvilldesci'iberone'foim of apparatus embody- Patented Oct. 17, 1933 STATE My 'invention're'lates torailwaly switch operat in; apparatus, and has for an object "the" pro vision" of novel and improved means rfor perinittin'g manual-- operationof apovver operated irig my inventionfand' will then point out -the novel'features thereof -in'claims. A

In; the "accompanying'drawings, :Fig: l is a top plan" view showing :ne"fc1:mofapparatus embodying'uny invention: -F ig:--2 -is-- an enlarged sectionakview taken "on the line II--'-IL ot'Fig Fig. 3 1st: top-pla-rr-view of the --a -pparatus showrrin Fig? 2; with' the cover o=the;housing removed; and --with certain parts omitted or broken away to more clearly -illustrate-the constructionthereof. Fige i is a--sectional;-view taken substantially on the line ZV-I-V of; Fig. 3.- Fig.-- isa 'bottca nviewof --the-be v el gearl-'7 forming part of the apparatus shown i-n l igs 2 forming-part of; the clutch-mechanism- -M "forat times- 'connecting tha shaft -6 with the bevel gear 17- of the-apparatus -shown-in Figs." 2-=and B'r-Fig. 7- is-adetail ,viewdllustratingtheworm wheel-9 iorming-part-of the -appa-ratusshown -in'Figs. 2-'and-3.== Fig-8 is a bottomview of-the sleeve -28 forming part of thee-hitch mechanism M for attimes connectingthe shaft Gav'iththe worm wheel9*of the apparatus shownirrfigs.

' 2- and -3. *Fig. 9"is-a right-hand -end'; view-oi the sleeve 23 -andse'gment?gear-26 formingpart ofthe;apparatusfillustrated inFigs; -2 and-"3. ll) 'is a sectionalview taken on the-line -X'--X of Fig. 2;" *Figzi1 isa'secti-Onal" view, taken: on

the line of Fig;-3;*--Fig.---1;2--is a-view partly inelevation; and 'partly in section; showing onanen-lar-ged scale -t-he-lockstand A formingpart of--'the apparatus illustrated-in Figr 1. Fig. 13- is a; view "of" the "lock stand shownin Fig: l2; as itappearswheniviewed:fromthe lefit in-Fig; 12;- 1'" o 1 Similar "reference characters refer to si 1 and "4; and isprovided" at its lowerendwitha -Qf 1e 'i3 v. R-AELWAY sw rroli OPERATINGAPPARATUSJW imam Q.- .i icwii iit;f iiki ib i 111 1 r to 'll le Union Switch -& signal camp-my, '12:

Pei, 1'5, '"ciifporatioli "oflefins'ylvania 3.2 pplication-November 24,1331. 5.: ,1 .1; SeriaLNQ. 572,039

caiik '1 brovidecl with a crank pin '8; The

and crank; pin 8 cooperate-With suitable mechanism for -;aetuating-= and looking -a-- rail way-- switch;- which; mechanism is not shown in thy-drawings,- but j which -may, :icr example, i be similar ftO thatshown-in Letters Patentofthe Uni-tedwStates lflow 1 293.,2'90,-gra1 1ted to William Zabel, -on E6b.4=, l917." -I=n the said patenii-the Cfaij1955-"Mldcram; gin- 53- correspond respec tivelyto the crank 7 andcranh pin;8--in the pres eat-disclosures.

--A ;w orni-=gear 9- is mounted tor. rotation co axially with the-shaftq, and is fdrind .witha hub i0 for seating engagement izvit'hin a. suitable step bearing l1 formed in the iip'iierl portion of the bearing 3 Ih-i s; 'gear isdrivenby a worm l2 fixed to ajackshaft T 13 ,which wis. .j'ournalled in bearings 1-4.providedinithelwalls of the. housiin-g L.- --The jaclishaft 13 is operativelyhonnected with suitable .power driving .7 .means 7 such I as an electrical motor 15 through. lsi'iitable reduction gearing indicated. in. the drawings hy.the 'dash lines16v if j -A-bevel;.gear lflJislalsomountd for rotation coaxially with the shaft 16$ I and I is provided, v in its upper f with ianllannular recess 17% ivvhich cooperates with .a thrust bearing I18 formed on the lower side of the bracket 5 to prevent -vex? Itical and axial. displacement ofhthel bevel. gar. Vertical Sand axial -'displacenient of (the bevel gear is- 'also prevented by albushing .igfwhich is-i nterposed between the bevel gear and the re".- duced upper end 20..0f the shaft .6, andfwhich cooperates at one eiidiwithlaviccirchlar shoulder 2 1'- formed integral with the bevel gear; and? at the other endiwith a shoulder 22 formedvatithe -ieottomor" s the reduced upperend 20 of the shafts- Tho; bevel-gear llme'shes with a -segmcntal bevelgearflfi splined to the -end of' a horizontally extending sleeve; 23 which" is j ournalled iii--2 bearingf24 formedin the side of the housing- 1: The-outer end of the sleeve 23 is provided with an integral channel shapedportion 23;; and pivotally gnonnted in this channel shaped-"portion on a oin--25 carried thereby,

'2'7'and'28- Which-are mounted onthe-shaft 6 for vertical sliding movernent, but which are constrainedjo rotate ;with the; shaj-t by -means "of UV. H1.

integral internal nlines 3Q jyvhich cooperate with isa" hand lever:25. -This -lever provides; means corresponding splines 30 formed on the shaft, as best seen in Figs. 3, 6 and 8. As shown in Fig. 2, the confronting ends of the sleeves 27 and 28 are formed with annular recesses 31 and 31 respectively, and with circumferential flanges 32 and 32. A clutch collar 33 comprising two cylindrical members 33 and 33 screwed together, surrounds the sleeves 27 and 28 at the flanges 32 and 32 with slight clearance, and is provided at its upper end with an inwardly extending circular shoulder 33 which overlies the circular flange 32 and at its lower end, with a similar inwardly extending shoulder 33 which underlies the circular flange 32. The sleeves are constantly urged apart by a coil spring 34, the upper and lower ends of which are located in the recesses 31 and 31 respectively.

As best seen in Fig. 6, the upper end of the sleeve 2'7 is provided with teeth 35, 35 35 It will be noted that, as here shown, the angular distance between each two adjacent teeth 35 is 23 except that the angular distance between the teeth 35 and 35 is 68; The angular length of each tooth 35, as here shown, is 22 The lower face of the bevel gear 17 is likewise provided with teeth 36 ,36 36 as shown in Fig. 5. Each of these latter teeth, as here shown, has anangular length of 22 with the exception of the tooth 36 which has an angular length of 67. The angular space between each two adjacent teeth 36, as here shown, is 23. It follows that the teeth 35 on the sleeve 27 will fit between the teeth 36 on the gear 17 when and only when the space between the teeth 35- and 35 on the sleeve is opposite the tooth 36* on the bevel gear. The parts are so proportioned that this relation will exist when and only when the hand lever 25 and the switch occupy correspondwith teeth 37. These teeth are evenly spaced about the end of the sleeve, as best seenin Fig. 8, and are arranged to cooperate with similar teeth 38 formed on the upper end of the worm wheel 9, as shown in Fig. 7.

. It follows from the foregoing, that when the '71 which mechanism I will now describe.

clutch mechanism M is in one longitudinal .posi-; tion on the shaft 6 the teeth on the lower end of the sleeve 28 connect the worm wheel 9 with the shaft 6, whereas, when the clutch mechanism M is in another longitudinal position on the shaft, the teeth on the upper end of the sleeve 27 connects the bevel gear 17 with the shaft 6.

The clutch mechanism M is moved longitudinally on the shaft 6 in order to effect the desired driving connection between the bevel gear 17 and the shaft, and between the worm wheel 9 and the shaft, by means of shifting mechanism embodying my present invention, This mechanism, in the form here shown, comprises two shifter levers 39 and 39 which are pivotally mounted at one end on studs 40 and 40 threaded into the opposite sides of a boss 24 formed on the side wall of the housing 1 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4). The levers 39 and 39 extend inwardly in substantially horizontal directions on oppo-' site sides of the collar 33 to a position past the vertical axis of the collar, and are each provided at their inner ends with a pair of spaced rollers 41 and 41 which engage the upper and lower edges of the collar 33 at both sides of the collar. The shifting mechanism also comprises a substantially U-shaped shifter yoke 42 having two spaced horizontally extending arms 42 and 42 The shifter yoke 42 is connected to one end of a shifter rod 43 in a manner to be described presently, and the one arm 42 of the shifter yoke extends between the collar 33 and the lever 39, and is provided at its free end with an axial slot 44 which'receives the stud 40 with slight clearance. The other arm 42 of the shifter yoke 42 similarly extends between the collar 33 and the lever 39*, and is provided at its free end with a slot 44 (see Fig. 4) which receives the stud 40 with slight clearance. The shifter rod 43 is mounted for axial sliding movement within the sleeve 23, and the outer end thereof is pivotally connected with the hand lever 25 by means of a pin 45.

For reasons which will appear hereinafter, it is necessary to connect the shifter rod 43 to the shifter yoke 42 in such manner that the shifter rod can rotate with respect to the shifter yoke, but that, axial movements of the shifter rod will cause corresponding horizontal movements of the shifter yoke. For this purpose, the shifter rod, as here shown, is provided at its inner end with an annular groove 46, and the shifter yoke 42 is provided with a recess 47 which receives the shifter rod at the groove 46 with slight clearance as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The shifter rod 43 is held in place in the recess'47 by means of a bearing cap 43'which is fastened to the shifter yoke 42 adjacent the recess 47 by means of screws 49, and which is provided with a bearing member 48 which extends into the upper end of the recess 47. The bearing cap 48 is also provided with a horizontally extending finger 50 which cooperates in a manner to be described hereinafter with two horizontally extending diametrically opposite slots 51 and 52 (see Figs. 2 and 9) formed on the inner end of the sleeve 23. The arms 42 and 42 of the shifter yoke 42 also extend between the rollers 41 and 41, carried by the adjacent levers 39 and 39 and are each provided on their upper edges with a cam 53 which cooperates with the adjacent roller 41, and on their lower edges, with a cam. 53 which cooperates with the adjacent roller 41*.

The reference character C designates a circuit controller which, in the form here shown, comprises two sets of contact fingers, each set of which consists of a fixed contact finger 54 and a movable contact finger 55 which normally engages the fixed contact finger 54 to close a contact 54-55. The fixed contact finger 54 and movable contact finger 55 of each set are secured to the opposite sides of an insulating block 56 by means of two terminal posts 57 and 58. Each terminal post 57 is insulated from the associated finger 55, but is electrically connected with the associated finger 54, whereas, each terminal post 58 is insulated from the associated finger 54, but is electrically connected with the associated finger 55. The insulating block 56 is mounted on a bracket 61 which is secured to theside of the bracket 5 by means of screws 62. The free ends. of the movable fingers 55 are engaged by an insulating block 63 which cooperates with a cam follower 64. The cam follower 64 is pivotally I attached-to a braeket secured etc the upper side of-the lever 39% and; is adapted to cooperate, in I a manner -to be described 7 hereinafter with r a cam 53 formedon the upper :side of the arm w et-the shifter -yoke-42 (see.-Fig; 2) Thecircuit controller-C- may, tor-example, be employed to control the supplyof currentto the electricmotor 15. Cooperating With-i116 i handlever-2501 1 013- posite sidesofthesleeve-23 as shown inFigi- -l are-twolock'stands A -and-Ah These lookstands are exactly alike, and-a description of one will therefore suffice for" both. Referringto'the locl; stand A fOI example; illustrated in 1 detail in Figs. 12 and 13, this look stand,-in-the--form hereshown, comprises a 'jaw- 66' formed-on a suitable base 68 which may be secured to=a rail- Waytie as shown -orto-any othen-convenient foundation orsupport; The=jaw-66 isprovided with an opening-67 which is adaptedto"receive the handlever 25,*this opening being made sufficiently Wide asviewed in Fig; -12-so that when the hand lever is within' the opening the -lever may be swung through'aconsiderable angle about its pivot '25 in the horizontalplane.- For reasons which will appear hereinafter, it is de sirable topreventthe handlever 25 from being "inserted "into, or removed 1 from, the opening 67 except when the-lever is at the extreme righthand side of the opening; as"*viewed-in 'Figm,

and for this purpose, the jaw 6'7 is provided with two spaced projections 69 which partially-close theupper end of theopeni'ng '67as best seenin Figs. land 12. The jaw66 is also provided at its left hand side," asVi'ewedjin Fig. 12, with a slot 70 whichcominunicates'with the opening 6'7 between the spaced'projections'69, andwhich extends at rightangles to the plane in'which the hand lever 25"m'ust be rotated 'inor'der to insert it into, orrernoveitfr'or'ri, "the operiingh'l. Pivotally mountedwithin'the slot 70 "or'i a p'iii'71 carried by the ja'w'f 66 is a ldckihamemberj'n. The lockinemernb'e'r' 72 overlies"the handlver 25 when the hand lever" occlipies"its" extreme left-hand or full line po'sition injthe slot 67f as viewed in Fig. 12 andis girovi'dedat its hand end with a" locking projeetji'onf'iz when cooperates with the hand leverj 25"ir'if'sii'c'h man'- ner that the hand lever cannot be hovedfroin its fullline position to its dotted lineposition without first raising the locking member 6's position in which the"l'ockih:g projection is out of the path of movement o'f'the lever. order to facilit'atethe raising of her 72 to the position in which the lockingxprog ec- 2 2 .0w h jpath 6f ni i mst'oi .t hand lever, the locking member has secured thereto, or .operatively connected therewith a foot pedal The i otp da fi:flwcoomreiet with a 7 ,.Wh. h., iVQ d Within t ese? 70 n a 11 .7 a ri by. the .ie tin. summener that when the foot pe'd al is depressed, a rounded portion 73? formedtliereonlwill engage the dog 74 and will rotate it in a clockwise tion about the pin '75. The upper end o i'the'dog 74 isa da pted' to cooperatej with: the leftehand side of the hand lever 25 to at times move the and. e 'mini l li e n s i ii sh w i' 1 Fig. 12 tothe dotteclline positionshown in figure, in a manner which will be described m r I 1ll ..her. in f,ter- It wi be notedfrom a inspection of Figs l2 and 13 thatone of the fi e s 69.,i .p. 5id d. w t an. y 76 :WhifihiS a a e tores re .a.padloc. ;.o f other.., as en ns device. :not shown: in theudrawings, H'Ihfi, .func: tion of.=theeyeflfi-willhamade clear presently)... .Thecoperationof --,the.- lock stand .is. as follows; When the .parts occupy..the.positions in which they: are illustrated: in the, drawings, that is, .with the handleyenz zfii resting in the openingtfi'lsat the extreme: left-hand end: oi the .opcning, .and with the locking member, 'Z21-in..the; positionto which .it .is; biased, 'if -:a locking .device. such ,as a padlock iis..p1aced .--in.,the..eye: '76-, rotati0n1of .-.the locking members-2 .will be prevented, .and..the handleven 25 will thereforebe heldin the post? tion:shown,- by the lockingiproieetionflZfiz hen the veye FIB is unoccupied by.,a locking. device .un derthe above conditions, however, .,the-.- locking member-.isufreehto rotate, andifthe iootpedal -73 is then. depressedythelocking memherJZ. .will be rotated upwardly stoaposition. inwbich the locking projection-Hei s out ofthe path oft-mover ment of. the hand lever... At-.the. same.;time,..the dog 74 will be rotated; ina. clockwise direction about its .pivot .75, and during this .rotation, .the -upperendof the dogwill-engageithe left-hand side oi -the leverasviewed in Fig 12,. and .Will move-the lever from rits-full, line...position.to its .90 dotted. lineiposition...-.When-.the.lever has reached its-dotted:lineposition, the foot. pedal maybe Is.- leased,- and. the. locking. member. .72 .wil-k return by gravity to the positionshown. ..With .thaparts in these latter apositions thehand lever. '75. may 19 be removed frointhe. opening 6-? .in thelock stand. at the-will-of the.operator.. ---If, after theparts have .-been;moved,.t.o the positions last described, .it isadesiredto return the parts to. the positions shown, itisonly. nece .10 essary to swing the: hand lever tin the. horizontal plane about it -pivot 25a toward. :the -.--1eft.,. as viewed-in Fig-12. ..When.-this is done-,dueto. the shape of-the lockingprojection -!72e,..=the. dog will first beautomatically raised. as the. lever. moves past the dog, and will then returnby. gravity. to the position-shown o The parts -of- -the-locking stand may. .be .proportioned in -any" suitable manner, but .as here shown, they are so -proportioned that when. the .0 lever is resting-'in theopening; 67. inits dotted line position itwill: be substantially. horizontal and will lie inwa plane. which is. perpendicular to the axis of rotation of=the sleeve 23, .butr that, when the-lever occupies-its full linehposition. in 2. Fig. -12, it will -sti-ll be substantially horizontal but will lie in a plane .which-is-disposed at an angle of approximately 15?-..with .the axis of rotation-ofthe-sleeve 23.. The operation of: the-apparatus, .as a .wholeis as follows:--When thehand-lever- 25. occupiesits extreme left-hand position in .thefopening 6.7. in the switch stand A asshown. inthedrawings, the shifter yoke42=is=held .inits-extreme. lefthand'position as viewed-in :Figs..2 andHB-by the shifter-rod 43,- andthe finger 50-on.-the bearing cap- 48 occupies-the slot-5lin the sleeve 23. With the-shifteryoke inthis position, .each. roller 41 rideson'top of the associated cam.-53 and each'roller -41 is out et-engagement with the associated cam-53 As a result -the levers; 39? and39 are rotated to their lowermost positions, and due tov the engagement of the rollers. 41*? with the upper edge of the collar' 33, adownward force isexerted -on -thecollarwhich-.is-ttranse mitted through-the-shoulder- -33, fiange 32 -and coilspring 34- to the lower sleeve .28,.--thereby holding this. sleeve tin .the position ;in which the teeth,;37 on the.s1eeve-.mesh.-.with ,the teethgs .on thewormtwheela. JI-hawormwheel iathe sr and the teeth on the bevel gear will mesh.

fore operatively connected with the switch actuating shaft 6, so that the apparatus is in condition for operation of the switch by the electric motor 15. At such times, the clutch 33 is disconnected from bevel gear 17. so that the clutch and shaftare free to rotate with respect to the bevel gear, and the hand lever is therefore dis connected from the switch..

I will now assume that it is desired to disconnect the-motor 15 from the switch, and to connect the hand lever with the switch. To do this, the operator depresses the foot pedal 73 of the lock stand Al, thus moving the hand lever 25 from its full line position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to its dotted line position, in the manner previously described. This movement of the hand lever moves the shifter rod 43, and hence the shifter yoke 42 to the right, as viewed in Figs. 2' and 3, from the position shown, to the position in which the rollers 41 are out of engagement with the associated cams 53 and the rollers 41 are riding on the associated cams 41 As a result, the levers 39 and 39 are rotated upwardly about the studs and 40 to their uppermost positions, and since the rollers 41 carried by these levers engage the underside of the collar 33 it will be seenthat the collar 33 is likewise moved to its uppermost position. Furthermore, as a result of the movement of the shifter yoke toward the right, the

finger carried by the bearing cap 48 is withdrawn from the slot 51 in the sleeve 23 so that the sleeve 23 is now free to rotate with respect to the shifter yoke. During the movement of -the collar 33 to its uppermost position, its

lower shoulder 33 engages the flange 32 on the sleeve 28, thereby-positively moving the sleeve 28 upwardly to a position in which the teeth 37 on the sleeve are disengaged from the teeth 38 on the worm wheel, so that the shaft is then free to rotate with respect to the worm wheel. Furthermore, during the movement of the collar 33 to its uppermost position, the sleeve 27 is moved upwardly by virtue of the force transmitted by the spring 34, and if the position of the switch and hand lever then correspond, so that the long tooth 36 on the bevel gear 17 is opposite the long space between the teeth 35 and 35 on the sleeve 27, the teeth on the sleeve The bevel gear 17 will then be connected with the shaft 6 so that the switch may be operated by swinging the hand lever from one extreme position to the other in a plane perpendicularto the axis of rotation of the sleeve 23 and shifter rod 29, to rotate the segment gear 26. If, however, the position of the switch and the hand lever do not correspond when the collar is be ing moved upwardly, so that the long tooth 36 on the bevel gear 17 is not opposite the long space between the teeth 35 and 35 on the sleeve 27, then when the collar has moved upwardly a comparatively short distance, the flat ends of the teeth 35 on the sleeve 27 will engage the fiat ends of the teeth 36 on the bevel gear 17, and during the remainder of the upward movement of the collar 33, spring 34 will become compressed. It willbe apparent, therefore, that under theseconditions, the hand lever will not become connected with the switch until the hand lever is moved to the position corresponding to the position of the switch,-at which time, the energy stored in the spring 34 will complete the upward movement of the spring 24, thereby causing the teeth on the sleeve to mesh with the teeth on the bevel gear, and hence permitting manual operation of the switch in the manner previously described. The movement of the shifteryoke 42 toward'the right caused by the inward movement of the hand lever 25 about its pivot 22 also causes the cam follower to ride up onto the cam 53 thus raising the movable contact fingers out of engagement with the fixed contact fingers 54, and hence opening the contacts 54-55. When these contactsare open, the motor is disconnected from its source of current, and it will be seen, therefore, that operation of the Worm wheel 9 is prevented while theapparatus is in condition for manual operation of the switch.

When it is desired to restore the apparatus to condition for operation by the motor, the hand lever is first rotated to the position in which it enters the opening 67 in either the lock stand A or A and is then swung outwardly about its pivot to its extreme outer position in the opening. The operation of the apparatus, under these conditions, is just the reverse of that described hereinbefore and will be readily understood with'out describing it in detail. It should be noted, however, that since the teeth on the sleeve 28 and the teeth on the worm wheel 9 are evenly spaced, theseteeth will mesh except when the ends-of the teeth are directly opposite each other, at which time, they will mesh as soon as the motor operates the worm wheel to an angle corresponding to the width of one tooth. It should be pointed out, that dueto the finger 50 carried by the bearing cap 43, the hand lever 25 cannot be swung outwa about its pivot to disconnect the hand lever the switch and to connect the motor with switch except when the parts are in the relative positions in which the finger is opposite either the slot 51 or the slot 52 in the sleeve 23. The parts are so proportion d that t1 -s condition will exist when and only when the hand lever is within the opening 67 in either the lock stand A or the lock stand A If the hand lever, is disconnected from the switch by swinging it about its pivot to its extreme outer position when the hand lever in the opening 67 in the lock stand A and it is subsequently desired to again connect the hand lever with the switch, this may be done by depressing the foot pedalof the loci; stand A The operation of the apparatus under these conditions will be substantially the same as that previously described when the parts were in the positions shown, and will be readily understood without further description.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of railway switch operating apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit an d scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a switch actuating shaft, a plurality of gear wheels mounted for rotation adjacent said shaft, clutch mechanism for selectively connecting said gear wheels with said shaft, a motor for rotating one of said gear wheels, a rotatable sleeve operatively connected with another of said gear wheels for rotating the same, a pivotally mounted lever for operating said clutch mechanism, a shifter yoke for operating said lever, a

shifter rod mounted for longitudinal; sliding movement in said sleeve; for operating said shifter yoke, and? a'manuallyroperable lever pivotally connected with both; said sleeve and said rod for rotating saidsleeve' and for: moving said rod longitudinally thereim:

2. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a switchactuating shaft, a plurality of gear wheels mounted for rotation adjacent said shaft, :clutch. mechanism for selectively connecting said' gear-wheels with said'shaft, a, motor for rotating one ,ofsaid gear wheels, a rotatable sleeve operatively connected with another of said geariwheel's for rotating the,same,fa ,slnfter rod mounted. for: longitudinal sliding movement within saidsleeve, a shifterlyoke operatively connected with said. shifter rodin such'manner that said shifter-rodfis' freetorotate with respect to said shifteryoke but' that-said.- shifter yoke is c'onstrainedltonfove in responseto longitudinal movements" of saidlshifterirod, means controlled bylsaid shifter yoke for operating said clutch mechanism, and manually operable, means for rotating" saidFsleev and-for sliding saidrod "within said;s1eeve.' I

3.. Railway switch operating apparatus comprisinga switch actuating shaft, :a plurality of gear wheelsbmounted "for rotation. adjacent said shaft, lclutclr mechanism. for selectively connectingsaid gear wheels'witlrisaid shaft, a motor for rotatingi'oneL of said gear wheels, arotat'able sleeve operativelyzconnected withanotherof said gear'wh eels for rotating the same, a-shifter rod mounted for longitudinalnr'sliding' movement within said sleeve,. a shifteryoke: operatively connected withzsaid shiftenrodin such-manner that said'shifter'rod is free to-ro'tate with respect to said shifter yoke :butthat said shifter. yoke is constrained' 'to:move in Sresponse. to longitudinal movements of said shifter rod," a shifter lever operated bysaid:shifter yeke for operating said clu'tch"mechar1ism,"and singly manually operable meansifor rotating said'sleeve and for sliding saidrod within said sleeve. *4. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a switch actuating shaft, a plurality of gear wheels mounted for rotation adjacent said shaft, clutch mechanism for selectively connecting said gear wheels with said shaft, a motor for rotating one of said gear wheels, a rotatable sleeve operatively connected with another of said gear wheels for rotating the same, a shifter rod mounted for longitudinal sliding movement within said sleeve, a shifter yoke operatively connected with said shifter rod in such manner that said shifter rod is free to rotate with respect to said shifter yoke but that said shifter yoke is constrained to move longitudinally in response to longitudinal movements of said shifter rod, a

cam on said shifter yoke, 'a pivoted shifter lever operated by said cam for operating said clutch mechanism in response to longitudinal movement of said shifter yoke, and a single manually operable lever for rotating said sleeve and for sliding said rod within said sleeve.

5. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a switch actuating shaft, a plurality of gear wheels mounted for rotation adjacent said shaft, clutch mechanism for selectively connecting said gear wheels with said shaft, a motor for rotating one of said gear' wheels, a rotatable.

.sleeve operatively connected with another of said gear wheels, a shifter rod mounted for longitudinal sliding movement within said sleeve, a

Single manually operable lever operatively connected with both-saidsleeveand' saidlimiter-fwd for-rotating said sleeve, and for-sliding said rod within said sleeve; ag-member :Oheratilielwcone nected with said shifterrod-insueh manner-that said shifter rod is free: to rotate ,with,,respect;to said member but that said member, is- -constrained to movelongitudinally in response tovlongitudig nal movements of said rod,,-mea-ns controlled by said member for operating said-clutch mecha nism, and means for preventing slidi-ng -:m0vements: of saidrodby said lever except when said sleeve has, been rotated by said lever .to- ,a pre-; d erm d "p i 1 r 6. Railway switch operating apparatus (som prising-a switch actuating shaft, a pluralityof gearheelsm unted for rotation adjacent said shaft-dutch mechanism for selectively connecting said gearwheels with said shaft, a motor for rotating ,onezof said gear wheels, a rotatable sleeve opera-tive ly connectedwith another of said gear yvheels, a shifter rod-mounted for longitudinal slidjng movement withinsaid sleeve, a

single manually opera ble; lever operatively connected with both said sleeve and said shifter rod for rotating said sleeve-andforp sliding said rod within said--sleeve, a member operatively connected with said shifter Ioddn such manner that said rodis free to rotate yvith respect to said member"- but t l1at ;said -member is. constrained to move longitudinallyin response to longitudinal ;-movements;0f said rod; means controlledby saidmember for operating said clutch mechanism; ,and;-mans for preventing sliding movementgof said rod by said lever except when said sleeve rhas been rotated by said lever to one-pita plurality of predetermined positions. 17. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a switch actuating shaft, a plurality of gear wheels mounted'for rotation adjacent said shaft, clutch mechanism for selectively connectf operatively connected withboth said sleeve and V said rod for rotating said sleeve and for sliding said rod within said sleeve, and a finger secured to said member and cooperating with the slot in said sleeve in such manner that said shifter rod can be operated to slide said shifter rod within said sleeve when and only when said sleeve has been rotated by said rod to the position in which said finger is opposite said slot.

8. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a rotatable switch actuating member,

two movable elements, clutch mechanism ineluding a clutch collar for selectively connect ing one of said elements or the other with said member, power means for operating one of said elements, a rotatable sleeve operatively connectsame and provided at one end with two slots, two levers pivotally mounted at one end in fixed studs and each provided at their free ends with a pair of rollers which engage bothedges of said clutch collar at both sides of the collar,

-ed with the other element for operating the 7 a shifter yoke having two arms one of which extends between the rollers on one of said levers and is provided at its free end with a slot which slidably receives one of said studs and the other of which extends between the rollers on the other of said levers and is provided at its free end with a slot which slidably receives the other of said studs, a recess in said shifter yoke, a shifter rod mounted for longitudinal sliding movement within said sleeve and provided at one end with an annular groove which fits into the recess in said shifter yoke, a bearing cap secured to said yoke and provided with a bearing member which fits intothe recess in said shifter yoke above said shifter rod to hold said shifter rod in place, said bearing cap also being provided with a finger adapted to enter one slot in said-sleeve when and only when said sleeve has been rotated to one position and adapted to enter the other slot in said sleeve when and only when said sleeve has been rotated to another position, cams on both said arms of said shifter yoke and cooperating with the adjacent rollers on said levers for operating said levers,

a channel shaped portion secured to one end of said sleeve,and a hand lever pivotally attached to said sleeve within said channel shaped portion for rotating said sleeve and to the free end of said shifter rod for sliding said rod within said sleeve.

' 9. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a switch actuating shaft, a manually operable lever movable in two planes, power means for at times operating said shaft, means responsive to movement of said lever in one plane fordisconnecting said power means from. said shaft and for connecting said lever with said shaft to permit operation of said shaft by movement of said'lever 'in the other plane, a foot pedal, a locking member controlled by said foot pedal and effective for at times preventing movement of said lever when said lever is disconnected from said shaft, and means controlled by said foot pedal and eifective'when said foot pedal is operated to release said locking member and to move said lever in said one plane in such manner that said power means becomes disconnected from said shaft and said hand lever becomes connected with said shaft. 7

10. The combination with railway switch operating apparatus of the type in which a switch actuating shaft is adapted to be operated manually by swinging a hand operated lever in one plane and to be transferred from manual operation by said lever to condition for operation by power means by swinging said hand lever in another plane, of a switch stand having anopeningadapted to receive said lever when said lever is in one position in said one plane and to permit movement of said lever in said other plane within said opening through a suflicent angle to transfer said switch actuating shaft from the condition for operation by said lever to the condition for operation by said power means or vice versa, a locking member pivotally attached to said stand and having a locking projection extending'into the path of 'r'novement of said lever within said opening, a

foot pedal operatively connected with said locking member for at times moving said lever to the position'in which said locking projection is out of the path of movement of said lever within said openingand means controlled by'said foot pedal and effective when said locking member is moved to the position in which Said locking said opening for at times locking 'tion to said one extreme position.

projection'is out of the path of movement of said lever for at times moving said lever within said opening from the position which said switch actuating shaft is in condition for power operation to the position in which said lever is in condition for manual operation by said lever.

11. The combination with a lever which is movable in two planes for controlling a railway switch, of a jaw having an opening which is adapted to receive said lever when and only when said lever is inone of said planes and which is sufiiciently wide to permitconsiderable movement of said lever in the other plane within said opening, a locking member pivotally attached to said jaw and having a locking pro jection which extends. into the path of movement of said lever in said opening for attimes locking said lever in one position in said opening, a foot pedal for controlling said locking projection, and means controlled by said foot pedal for moving said lever from said one. position to the position which said lever occupies when it is in a position common to both planes.

12. The combination with a lever which is movable in two planes for controlling a railway switch, of a jaw having an opening which receives said lever 'at one end of its stroke in one of said planes and which is wide enough to permit movement of said lever within said opening in the other plane from the one extreme position'which it occupies whenit is inserted into the opening to another extreme position a locking member pivotally attached to said jaw and having a locking projection which extends into said opening for at times locking said lever in saidother extreme position, and'a single manually operable device for operating said locking member to unlock said lever and for moving said lever from said other extreme position to said one extreme position.

13. The combination with a lever which is movable in two planes for controlling a railway switch, of a. jaw having an opening which receives said lever at one end of its stroke in one of said planes and which is wide enough to permit movement of said lever within said opening in the other plane'from the one extreme position which it occupies when it is inserted into the opening to another extreme position, a locking member pivotally attached to said jaw and having a locking. projection which extends into lever in said other extreme position, a foot pedal for controlling said locking member, and means controlled by said foot pedal for moving said locking member from said other extreme position to said one extreme position.

14. The combination with a lever which is movable in two planes for controlling a railway 'switch, of a jaw having an opening which re- 1- ceives said lever at one end of its stroke in one of said planes and which is wide enough to permit movement of said lever within said opening in the other plane from the one extreme position which it occupies when it is inserted in said other extreme position, a foot pedal for controlling said locking member, and a pivoted dog actuated by said foot pedal for moving said locking member from said other extreme posi- 15. The combination with a lever which is movable in two planes for controlling a railway switch, of a jaw having an opening which is adapted to receive said lever and which is sufficiently wide to permit movement of said lever within said opening from one end of its stroke to the other end of its stroke in one of said planes, two spaced projections secured to said lever and partially closing said opening in such manner that said lever can be inserted into or removed from said opening when and only when said lever is in the other plane, said jaw also being provided with a slot which communicates with said opening between said projections and which extends substantially at right angles to said other plane, a locking member pivotally attached to said jaw within said opening and provided with. a locking projection which extends into the path of movement of said lever in said one plane within said opening for at times preventing movement of said lever in said one plane from other end of its stroke to said one end of its stroke, a foot pedal for operating said locking member to withdraw said locking projection from the path of movement of said lever within said opening, and a dog pivotally attached to said jaw within said opening and cooperating with said foot pedal and said lever in such manner that when said foot pedal is operated to unlock said lever said lever is automatically moved by said dog from said other end of its stroke in said. one plane to said one end of its stroke.

16. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a switch actuating shaft, a gear wheel mounted for rotation adjacent said shaft, a 'rotatable sleeve operatively connected with said gear wheel for at times rotating said gear wheel, a shifter rod mounted for longitudinal sliding movement within said sleeve, a shifter yoke operatively connected with said shifter rod in such manner that said shifter rod is free to rotate with respect to said shifter yoke but that said shifter yoke is constrained to move longitudinally in response to longitudinal movements of said shifter rod, a single manually operable lever for rotating said sleeve and for sliding said shifter rod within said sleeve, and means controlled by said shifter yoke for at times connecting said gear wheel with said switch actuating shaft.

17. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a switch actuating shaft, a gear wheel mounted for rotation adjacent said shaft, a rotatable sleeve operatively connected with said ear wheel for at times rotating said gear wheel, a shifter rod mounted for longitudinal sliding movement within said sleeve, a shifter yoke operatively connected with said shifter rod in such manner that said shifter rod is free to rotate with respect to said shifter yoke but that said shifter yoke is constrained to move longitudinally in response to longitudinal movements of said shifter rod, a single manually operable lever for rotating said sleeve and for sliding said rod within said sleeve, means controlled by said shifter yoke for at times connecting said gear wheel with said switch actuating shaft, and a contact operated by said shifter yoke.

18. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a switch actuating shaft, a gear wheel mounted for rotation adjacent said shaft, a rotatable sleeve operatively connected with said gear wheel for at times rotating said gear wheel, a shifter rod mounted for longitudinal sliding movement within said sleeve, a shifter yoke operatively connected with said shifter rod in such manner that said shifter rod is free to rotate with respect to said shifter yoke but that said shifter yoke is constrained to move longitudinally in response to longitudinal movements of said shifter rod, a shifter lever operated by said shifter yoke, means controlled by said shifter lever for at times connecting said gear wheel with said switch actuating shaft, and a single manually operable lever for rotating said sleeve and for sliding said rod within said sleeve.

19. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a switch actuating shaft, a gear wheel mounted for rotation adjacent said shaft, a rotatable sleeve operatively connected with said gear wheel for at times rotating said gear wheel, a shifter rod mounted for longitudinal sliding movement within said sleeve, a shifter yoke operatively connected with said shifter rod in such manner that said shifter rod is free to rotate with respect to said shifter yoke but that said shifter yoke is constrained to move longitudinally in response to longitudinal movements of said shifter rod, a pair of shifter levers operated by said shifter yoke, means controlled by said shifter levers for at times connecting said gear wheel with said switch actuating shaft, a cam on said shifter yoke, a cam follower pivoted to one of said shifter levers and cooperating with said cam, and a contact controlled by said cam follower.

20. Railway switch operating apparatus comprising a switch actuating shaft, a gear wheel mounted for rotation adjacent said shaft, a rotatable sleeve operatively connected with said gear wheel for at times rotating said gear Wheel, a shifter rod'mounted for longitudinal sliding movement within said sleeve, a shifter yoke operatively connectedwith said shifter rod in such manner that said shifter rod is free to rotate with respect to said shifter yoke but that said shifter yoke is constrained to move longitudinally in response to longitudinal movements of said shifter rod, means controlled by said shifter yoke for at times connecting said gear wheel with said switch actuating shaft, a single manually operable'lever for rotating said sleeve and for sliding said shifter'rod within said sleeve, and means for preventing sliding movements of lever occupies a predetermined position.

WILLIAM C. MCWHIRTER. 

